Why are soldiers called GI's

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Answer by Grokker
Submitted on 10/16/2006
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G.I. 1936 (adj.), Amer.Eng., apparently an abbreviation of Government Issue, applied to anything associated with servicemen. Transferred sense to "soldiers" during World War II (first recorded 1943) is from the jocular notion that the men themselves were manufactured by the government. An earlier G.I. was an abbreviation of Galvanized Iron in G.I. can, a type of metal trash can, the term being picked up by U.S. soldiers in World War I as slang for a similar-looking type of German artillery shells. This use is attested from 1928, but it is highly unlikely that this came to mean "soldier." I probably get more e-mail about this entry than any other. No two sources I have agree on the etymology, but none backs the widespread notion that it stands for *General Infantry. Source: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=G.I. Sample usage: "G.I.Jane" - movie with Demi Moor

Answer by DIZZLE
Submitted on 12/7/2006
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"This reverts back to military law which says that all military personnel, like the bunks they sleep in, the clothes they wear, and the guns they carry, are the property of the Government. What started as a common joke among soldiers that they were, in fact, Government issued military property, became the standard ready reference. They were, quite simply, issued by the government and, therefore, Government Issue." Wordsmith // THE GUY I QOUTED HAS THE COMMON IDEA AS TO WHICH MOST PEOPLE OVER TIME HAS COME TO BELIEVE .. THE TRUTH IS THE TERM IS IN FACT "GALVANIZED IRON" AFTER THE LETTERS GI THAT WAS STAMPED ON US ARMY TRASH CANS MADE FROM IT... LATER INTERPERTED OVER TIME INTO GOVERNMENT ISSUE...

Answer by Rob
Submitted on 1/24/2007
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GI is short for Government Issue. However, these are all common interpretations or misinterpretations: General Issue General Infantry or Ground Infantry General Inductee Government Inductee More opinions: Everything a WWII soldier wore, carried, ate, or used was "Government Issued", so they started referring to them selves by the same title. Since soldiers in armored divisions, paratroopers, support staff, medics, etc., are all GI's it cannot be General Infantry. It stands for Government Issue. I know that the term "GI" was first used by the US Government in 1935, and did indeed stand for "Government Issue". But, I also remember reading in the 1940's about the GI'sin WW II who were drafted, referred to as "Government Inductees". Granted, the original meaning of the term might have been somewhat corrupted, but at the time (in the 1940's), that's what it DID mean. I had always thought that G.I. stood for general inductee - as in drafted. However, those of us who volunteered were GI, too.

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Question by Mr. Ajax
Submitted on 10/20/2003
Related FAQ: Fractal Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
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Why are soldiers called GI's

Answer by trosenbl
Submitted on 11/18/2003
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i would imagine it stands for 'general infantry', but i'm not in the military, so it's just a best guess

Answer by dan
Submitted on 12/22/2003
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G.I. = Government Issue

Answer by cheesecrunchies
Submitted on 1/3/2004
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It means "good imitation." Back in WWI, General Hammond was considered the ideal soldier. Top-rated soldiers came to be known as "good imitations" of General Hammond.

Answer by Wordsmith
Submitted on 1/18/2004
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Dan has the answer covered. GI stands for Government Issue. This reverts back to military law which says that all military personnel, like the bunks they sleep in, the clothes they wear, and the guns they carry, are the property of the Government. What started as a common joke among soldiers that they were, in fact, Government issued military property, became the standard ready reference. They were, quite simply, issued by the government and, therefore, Government Issue. Hope that resolves your question.

Answer by Kyle Hooker
Submitted on 2/27/2004
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It means General of infintry

Answer by Stu Smith
Submitted on 5/5/2004
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GI or GI's An enlisted person in or a veteran of any of the U.S. armed forces, especially a person enlisted in the army.adj. 1. Relating to or characteristic of an enlisted person. 2. Conforming to or in accordance with U.S. military regulations or procedures. 3. Issued by an official U.S. military supply department.adv. In strict accordance with military regulations or practices. Government Issue .(GI)

Answer by nonieskin
Submitted on 9/10/2004
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Great question. I am helping my granddaughter research this very question for school. This is what I found at www.warwick.k12.pa.us/hs/hssocstudies/blose/amcult2/ww2.html this is the what was written. American soldiers called themselves GI's during WWII. They got it from the "Government Issue' stamped on all clothes, shoes, guns and other equipment they were given. So this validates the others who have already answered this question previously.

Answer by Macha
Submitted on 9/30/2004
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That's correct GI stands for Govt. Issue

Answer by exoteris
Submitted on 12/3/2004
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it means galvanized iron

Answer by Mr. Showtime
Submitted on 3/22/2005
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G.I. stands Government Issue.

Answer by pierre l'�clair
Submitted on 5/8/2005
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The most plausible answer when speaking of a soldier is, of course, "general infantry", not "government issue" or "general issue". Use your common sense !

Answer by marine
Submitted on 11/26/2005
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government issue

Answer by PIemel
Submitted on 2/22/2006
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G.I. stands for "German Invaders". It refers to the German Invasion of the second World War.

Answer by Ms. Morris
Submitted on 5/22/2006
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I'm confused, which one is correct?

Answer by jack-the-GI
Submitted on 2/1/2007
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is not it a shortcut for Bush's policies in Iraq which stands for : Goals Irrelevant Or if it comes to military adventures of Bush Admin, it can be aberviation of George's Idiots?!

Answer by Will
Submitted on 2/19/2007
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G.I. = Governement Issue. Used as a jokes amongst soldiers, because they had an owner. Hence no longer making them free men. LOL

Answer by dave
Submitted on 5/30/2006
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umm your all wrong GI's stands for 'general issues' because of the uniform they wear and dont try and argue about this with me i got and A in my history gcse and a levels

Answer by baby H
Submitted on 6/28/2006
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GI stands for Gay Immigrants

Answer by um im me who are you?
Submitted on 8/10/2006
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it means general issue too you losers

Answer by GI
Submitted on 8/17/2006
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Gay Idol

Answer by maher
Submitted on 8/19/2006
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GI stands for Garanteed Idiot the GI is used to kill, torture ... other people in other countries that are not enemies but for other reaosns: used as proxy for Israel interests, for the Bush Family Oil Theft ...

Answer by rosie
Submitted on 8/22/2006
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G.I = General Infantry; refer to play - 'Minefields and Miniskirts' i did it for my I.P in drama 2006!

Answer by GI Joe
Submitted on 9/24/2006
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government Issue

Answer by SKY DOG
Submitted on 9/28/2006
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????????????????????

Answer by haus
Submitted on 11/1/2006
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It means "Ground Infantry",

Answer by william
Submitted on 11/28/2006
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i think it stands for government issue since everything that involves the army belongs to the government.

Answer by TurtleFart8
Submitted on 1/9/2007
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It does stand for Goverment Issue, i take a college history course at Yale, and we have just finished studying this. The one about good imitations iis probably the most retarded thing i've ever heard.

Answer by kota
Submitted on 1/10/2007
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What does GI stand for??

Answer by billy
Submitted on 2/9/2007
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government issue Everything in the armed forces were belongings to the goverment

Answer by Truth
Submitted on 2/27/2007
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The term is often thought to be an initialism of "Government Issue" but the origin of the term is in fact "Galvanized Iron" after the letters "GI" that were stamped on U.S. Army metal trash cans made from it.

Answer by Slug
Submitted on 3/9/2007
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G.I. stands for Issues Issues

Answer by peacock
Submitted on 3/16/2007
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government issue was the gi's

Answer by yo
Submitted on 4/18/2007
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GI stands for Government Issue(GI).

Answer by Ace
Submitted on 4/30/2007
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Government issue

Answer by BOO
Submitted on 5/8/2007
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GI stands for gas igniters. When they fart they ligt it with a lighter (gas igniter) thats what it stands for

Answer by ron
Submitted on 5/24/2007
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dan has got the rite answer